Implementing SharePoint Intranet Design Best Practices

Introduction

SharePoint is a powerful platform for building intranet websites that facilitate collaboration and communication within organizations. Whether you are using SharePoint on-premise or SharePoint Online, implementing best practices for intranet design is crucial to ensure a user-friendly and effective intranet site. In this article, we will discuss some of the key best practices for SharePoint intranet design.

1. Planning and Strategy

Before diving into the design and development process, it is important to have a clear plan and strategy for your SharePoint intranet. This includes defining the goals and objectives of your intranet, identifying the target audience, and understanding their needs and requirements. It is also important to consider the scalability and future growth of your intranet, as well as any integration requirements with other systems or applications.

2. User-Centric Design

When designing your SharePoint intranet, it is essential to keep the end-users in mind. The design should be intuitive, user-friendly, and visually appealing. Consider the information architecture and organize the content in a logical and easy-to-navigate manner. Use clear and concise labels for navigation and provide search functionality to help users find the information they need quickly. Also, consider the accessibility requirements and ensure that your intranet is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

3. Customization and Branding

SharePoint provides various customization options to tailor the look and feel of your intranet to match your organization’s branding. Use custom themes, colors, and fonts to create a consistent and professional appearance. Incorporate your organization’s logo and branding elements throughout the intranet to reinforce your corporate identity. Customization also includes creating custom web parts, workflows, and templates to meet specific business requirements and enhance productivity.

4. Content Management

Effective content management is crucial for a successful SharePoint intranet. Develop a content management strategy that includes guidelines for creating, organizing, and maintaining content. Implement workflows and approval processes to ensure that content is accurate, up-to-date, and relevant. Provide training and support to content authors and editors to ensure they understand how to use SharePoint’s content management features effectively. Regularly review and update content to keep it fresh and engaging for users.

5. Collaboration and Communication

One of the main purposes of a SharePoint intranet is to facilitate collaboration and communication within an organization. Implement features such as discussion boards, document libraries, and team sites to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing. Use social features like news feeds, blogs, and wikis to promote communication and engagement among employees. Integrate with other communication tools like Microsoft Teams or Outlook to streamline communication processes.

Conclusion

Implementing best practices for SharePoint intranet design is essential to create a user-friendly and effective intranet site. By following the planning and strategy, user-centric design, customization and branding, content management, and collaboration and communication best practices, you can optimize your SharePoint website and improve collaboration within your organization. Consider partnering with a SharePoint development agency or outsourcing SharePoint development to ensure that your intranet is designed and implemented according to best practices.